Doi Ma Muang Sam Muen

1,800 m (5,905 ft)

This 18-20 km (11-12.5 mi) trek takes 2 days and 1 night. The journey can take an extra night if hikers decide to break it up and do fewer kilometers per day.

This is generally known as a challenging trail. Hikers must cross multiple rivers, climb muddy slopes, and contend with rain, mist, and wind.

Day 1:
On the first day hikers trek 5km+ (3 mi +) making their way from the starting point near Ban Kui Loe To, to Pitugro waterfall. This waterfall is the main attraction of this hike. It takes 2-3 hours to get there.

The trail starts off on a dirt road with rainforest on either side. When it rains this road gets very muddy, making it slippery and difficult to walk through. Most people get transported on the back of a 4 x 4 for some of the way up this dirt road until reaching a large pavilion at Ban Kui Loe To.

Here, short grass, bush, and sparse trees surround you. The trail continues as a path with similar vegetation for about 200m (650 ft ) until reaching a shallow stream which hikers must cross. The terrain here is not too steep.
If it has rained, the path here is so muddy that even lifting your foot is a challenge with the thick mud sucking at your feet.

Beyond this muddy section, hikers will then start to follow that same shallow stream upwards, using it as a path. There is dense rainforest on either side of the stream.

Beyond the stream, there is another much steeper muddy slope.
Hikers will then pass through corn fields and rice fields.

Eventually, the path meets a deep river that must be crossed. There may be a bamboo bridge that hikers can use to cross.

After crossing the deep river, there is a small waterfall where one may stop for lunch.

After this, the trail gets quite tricky. There are some places where hikers will need to climb under tree branches and roots that block the trail, and up rocky inclines.

Eventually, hikers will reach the base of the massive Pitugro waterfall. After enjoying the view, it is another 45-minute walk to the campsite, which is just a clearing in the rainforest.

Day 2:
The second day consists of hiking to the top of the waterfall / the summit and back down the mountain. Some hikers choose to stay another night at a homestay close to the base of the mountain. It is about 2.5 km (1.55 mi) to the top of the waterfall and takes about 1.5-2 hours to get there.

Pitugro Waterfall has 3 levels/viewing points. On the second day, hikers can choose how far up they want to hike. The trail is still within the dense rainforest, with many indigenous plants surrounding the trail, like wild jasmine and ferns. The path follows the Pitugro stream up to the top of the waterfall. The trail gets very steep and there is a section where it drops off to form a cliff.

When you reach the top, there is low vegetation and a view of the waterfall off the cliff from above. This last section can be too dangerous to hike when there is heavy rain.

After enjoying the summit, hikers descend back to camp, eat, and continue descending the mountain. Some guides may take hikers an alternate route down than the one they used to ascend. The alternate route is steeper.
Hikers should arrive back at the bottom of the mountain by 1 pm on the second day.

This area is very rainy, hot, and humid for most of the year.

The rainiest months are from May to October. There are between 12 and 18 days of rain per month in this period. This time of year, it is extremely humid and cloudy. The dry season is from November to April. There are between 0 and 5.6 days of rain per month in this period. This time of year is also humid but is only partly cloudy.

The temperature is quite warm year-round (16.7°C – 37°C/ 62°F – 99°F), with a few cooler months and a few very hot months. The hottest months are March and April. (Also overlapping with the dry season). The temperatures in this period have an average daily high of 35.6°C/96°F. The cooler months are October to January. The temperatures in this period have an average daily high below 31°C/88°F.

Since the October to January period offers both the cooler months and the dry season, it is the best time of year to attempt this trek.

For this trek, you will need quality hiking boots and hiking poles to help keep you steady. It is also important to have a raincoat, windbreaker, waterproof shoes, and warm clothing, as well as camping equipment if your tour guide operator does not provide this.

There are no facilities on this trail. Depending on the tour you have booked, the guides will usually provide your food and bring the tent as well as sleeping bags. You will need to provide everything else that you need. There are multiple rivers where you can collect water though.

It is possible to do this trek without a guide, as the waterfall provides a clear marker to help hikers keep their bearings. However, it is not recommended as it is a difficult trek, and it is easy to lose your way on certain sections especially when there is bad weather.

Local guides can be found nearby and online.

Doi Ma Muang Sam Muen is located in Tak province, Thailand, a 12-13 hour drive from Bangkok.

To get to the starting point from Bangkok, one can catch a bus/taxi or hire a car to drive to the starting point in Mae Chan, Umphang District.

The alternate option is to catch another flight from Bangkok to Mae Sot, which is much closer to the starting point (About 5 hours by car), and then make your way to Doi Ma Muang Sam Muen from there.

This mountain is located in quite a rural area and the trail is challenging. It would be best to do this trek with other travellers in case of injury or any other emergency.